Coronavirus: South Sudan Opens Special Laboratory To Test Suspected Cases.
As the Coronavirus intensifies around the world with several cases reported in five African countries, the government of South Sudan has opened a special laboratory to test any suspected cases of the disease.
The World Health Organization [WHO] and government officials said the country will no longer have to send samples to neighboring countries for testing.
In this pro-active effort to prevent coronavirus or COVID-19 from reaching South Sudan, health officials say the newly opened laboratory has the proper equipment and medical staff trained to deal with an outbreak of the virus and can test up to 1000 samples a day.
Laboratory technician Philip Kutjok said he calls the lab, “the red zone area.”
Laboratory technician Philip Kutjok using the “Glove Box” in “the red zone area” of the established lab. Photo: David MonoDanga March 3, 2020
“What we have here is what I personally call the “Magic Box”. It has a name. It’s called the “Glove Box.” It’s actually used for containment of highly infectious packages,” Kutjok said referring to Hemorrhagic fevers for example, Ebola, Marburg, Dengue and etcetera.
According to the World Health Organization there are now almost 90,000 cases of Coronavirus reported worldwide in about 70 countries, although the vast majority remain in China, and most of those are in Hubei province, where the virus originated late last year.
Doctor Gurache Guyo, WHO’s Emergency Coordinator for South Sudan said the facilities the ministry installed to deal with the Ebola virus has put the country in a stronger and better position to contain Coronavirus.
He said the laboratory is part of a network of referral laboratories within the region.
Lab Manager James Ayei in his protective gears. Photo: David Mono Danga March 3, 2020
“We can always send samples to Uganda and Kenya. They [labs] always work closely intertwined. So if the samples increases, resources will also increase,” Guyo declared.
“For now, we think this laboratory is adequate.” Dr. Guyo said the virus appears to particularly affect those over the age of 60 and people already ill. He advises people to frequently wash their hands with soap and avoid spitting and coughing in public places.
Doctor Makur Koryom, undersecretary in the national health ministry said in a press conference on Tuesday that the government and its partners are working to ensure the coronavirus disease does not enter the country.
The Undersecretary said he worries about the oil workers who travel from China straight to oil fields in Unity and Upper Nile States. He said they may unknowingly carry the virus. Dr. Koryom said special scanners were installed at the Juba airport to screen travelers entering the country.
On 23rd of January the ministry launched a thermos scanner installed at Juba International airport to screen travelers into the country. Dr. Koryom said the government is doing the same in other international entry points across the country.
“Our team is working in Nimule to install or have installed a similar equipment. Work is ongoing to have similar equipment installed in Yambio and Wau where we also receive international flights,” said Dr. Koryom.
“We also worry of oil workers in areas of Palouch and unity state and similar measures are also put in those places because at times oil workers fly into the country and right from Juba International Airport they connect straight to those places,” he confirmed revealing that there are flights that also land in Palouch without necessarily passing through the capital Juba.”
Koryom said South Sudan cannot suspend flights to or from the COVID-19 affected countries but says people should have to practice personal discipline by isolating themselves when they feel symptoms of flu, common cold or cough.
More than 3,000 people have died globally from COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. Five African countries have reported the virus so far and these are: Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal and South African. There no confirmed local transitions reported in these countries yet.
Recent Comments